Every year, the Southwest Kitchener Optimist Club host and plans a blastball, t-ball, 3-pitch league for children between the ages 3 years old to 14 years old. Our baseball teams play at the Upper Canada Park (formally known as Southwest Optimist Park). We also use other diamonds at Pioneer Park Public School, St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School, and Carlyle Park and other diamonds in the area.

We are offering online registration .

Blast Ball is a very simple concept utilizing the skills of baseball in a fun, fast-paced activity for young players. Blast Ball teaches five fundamentals of baseball. Designed for new players starting out. With only one base and a foam bat and ball, it is safer and less complex than T-ball.

How to play the game

• The teams will consist of 5-6 players
•  will consist of 1st base only
•  1st base will be set at a distance of 50 feet from home plate 
• 1st base is equipped with a horn for sound effects upon each batter reaching 1st base
•  batter will hit from a batting tee located at home plate
•  defensive players will always line up at least 40 feet away from home plate
• an arc will be placed approximately 10 feet from home plate from foul line to foul line to designate a fair ball where the batter shall advance to 1st base
• the batter returns to the dugout after reaching 1st base 
•  games should run approximately 60 minutes with each team rotating between playing in the field and hitting from the tee
•  coaches will monitor the defensive-offensive rotations to provide equal number of at-bats for both teams. During the offensive rotation, each player from the entire roster will bat which consists of hitting a fair ball and running to 1st base. Each player returns to the dugout prior to the next batter hitting
• the batter and the on deck batter should be the only two offensive players out of the dugout
•  no umpires . . . no scoring . . . no safe or out calls
•  no defensive play at 1st base is required - there is no catcher in Blast Ball
•  at least two (2) coaches should be on the field with each team at all times
•  offensive coaches should include someone at the tee helping with the stance, swing and placing the ball on the tee and someone coaching 1st base to help instruct the batters to run to 1st base
•  the defensive coaches should be primarily responsible for making sure all players are approximately 40 feet from home plate when the ball is hit
•  one defensive coach should be positioned near 1st base
• There is no set time the session has to end.  We encourage you to play as long as your players want to continue (within reason) . You continue play and/or practice as long as several players –team(s) – have to leave. Adjust the rotating to suit weather, interest, etc.

T-Ball is a game of baseball between two teams of 11 players with sufficient number if alternatives. T-Ball is designed to get young people interested in the game of baseball by teaching them the fundamentals in a fair, fun and safe way.

How to play the game:

• LINE-UPS: All players will have a turn at bat.  All players play will play on the field with rotating positions every inning. 

• REGULATION GAME: (a) Will consist of 5 innings. A full batting cycle will be completed for every inning. No full inning will start past the time of 7:30 pm.

• DEFENSIVE TEAM: Shall have a catcher who shall play a position normally taken by the catcher behind the home plate, far enough back to not interfere with the batter while batting. The catcher must control the ball and place the ball on the tee to make the play dead. No TAG is allowed. Defense coaches must stand in the outfield. 

• OFFENSIVE TEAM: Shall have a manager and two coaches in the area. The coaches may coach at first and third bases and must stay in the coaches box at all times. 

• THE GAME BEGINS: When the coach has instructed the home team to take positions in the field, position the tee on home plate, calls for a batter up, checks to see everybody has taken their position and call “PLAY BALL”.

• NOTICE OF LAST BATTER: The offensive team must tell the coach of last batter. 

• FINAL PLAY: Is made when the catcher makes the last play by retrieving and placing the ball on the tee at home plate. All players must cross over the scoring line before the catcher places the ball on the tee

3-Pitch is a game of baseball between two teams of 10 players each inning. A regulation game consists of 7 innings. This 3-Pitch style game is designed to continue the players development skills at the next level of baseball.

How to play the game:

• THE GAME:  3-Pitch is a game of baseball between two teams of 10 players each inning, however 9 could be adequate if the team is short players. If less than 8 players, the game is forfeited but still played by dividing up the kids evenly and playing for fun. Games begin when the umpire calls “Play Ball” A regulation game consists of 7 innings. No full innings will start past the time of 7:30 pm. In the event the umpire terminates the game before the end of 7 complete innings (e.g. Rain) or curfew the score reverts back to the last completed inning. It is to get young people interested in the game of baseball by stressing and maintaining active participation of all players. 

• LINE-UPS: All players with the exception of the Pitcher must ROTATE every inning. There will be No playing the same position twice in the same game. (Unless you are playing with only 9 players.) No player shall sit out a second time before everyone has sat out at least once and no player will sit out 2 consecutive innings. A coin is tossed to decide which team is home. The score keepers get the opposing teams list for scoring. A player must be listed to bat in the same position for each inning they play. All line-up changes must be reported to the score keeper of the opposing team and umpire. Late arrival players will be allowed to play at their arrival. 

Slo-Pitch is a game of baseball between to teams of 10 players each inning. A regulation game consists of 7 innings. Slo-Pitch is designed to maintain players interest in baseball by offering a skillful, fun and fair game.

How to play the game:

• THE GAME: Slo-Pitch is a game of baseball between two teams of 10 players each inning, however 9 could be adequate if the team is short players. If less than 8 players, the game is forfeited but still played by dividing up the kids evenly and playing fun. Games begin when the umpire calls “Play Ball” A regulation game consists of 7 innings. No full innings will start past the time of 7:30 pm. In the event the umpire terminates the game before the end of 7 complete innings (e.g. Rain) or curfew the score reverts back to the last completed inning. It is to get young people interested in the game of baseball by stressing and maintaining active participation of all players.

• LINE-UPS: All players with the exception of the Pitcher must ROTATE every inning. There will be No playing the same position twice in the same game. (Unless you are playing with only 9 players.) No player shall sit out a second time before everyone has sat out at least once and no player will sit out 2 consecutive innings. A coin is tossed to decide which team is home. The score keepers get the opposing teams list for scoring. A player must be listed to bat in the same position for each inning they play. All line-up changes must be reported to the score keeper of the opposing team and umpire. Late arrival players will be allowed to play at their arrival.